Posted on 09/10/2003 6:41:40 PM PDT by Brian S
CFA: Strengthen the Federal Assault Weapons Ban 9/10/2003
Press Release Consumer Federation of America 1424 16th Street, NW Washington, DC 20036 www.consumerfed.org
Contact: Naomi Seligman Phone: 202-628-7772 ext. 126
Leading Consumer Advocate, Howard Metzenbaum, with 25 State Consumer, Gun Control and Public Health Groups Call on Congress and President Bush to Strengthen and Renew the Federal Assault Weapons Ban
National and State Groups Demand President Bush Keep His Promise To Support Legislation Before the Assault Weapons Ban Expires, September 13, 2004.
Washington, DC - Retired Senator Howard Metzenbaum and Sonia Wills, mother of bus driver Conrad Johnson, the last victim of the Washington, DC-area sniper attacks, were joined today by 25 state consumer, gun control and public health advocates to announce the launch of a year-long effort to renew and strengthen the federal assault weapons ban due to expire September 13, 2004.
Modeled after California's 1999 Assault Weapons Ban, the speakers voiced their support for S. 1431, sponsored by Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), and H.R. 2038 sponsored by Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY). The legislation would not only renew the law, but would also strengthen provisions to ban the manufacturing of "post-ban" assault weapons like the Bushmaster XM-15 used by the Washington DC-area sniper.
"Unless Congress and President Bush work together to enact new legislation, UZIs, AK 47s, and a list of other bargain basement military-style killing machines will flood America's streets again," said retired Senator and Consumer Federation of America (CFA) Chairman Howard Metzenbaum. "The existing law is so weak that scores of slightly modified versions of assault weapons banned ten years ago are legally and freely available."
Although President Bush has stated his support for renewing the ban, he has not yet taken action on its behalf. The speakers are calling on the President to stand behind his words. "The American people will not take kindly to a Congress and President who buckle under to the extreme demands of the gun lobby by letting the law expire or simply reenacting the existing weak ban," said Metzenbaum. "The hour has come for President Bush and Congress to once and for all rid America's streets of these weapons of war."
Date of Release: September 4, 2003
Only if the book and this scenario are in the hands of relatively friendly media folks well before such an event. Might I suggest sending free copies to the likes of Sean Hannity, Michael Reagan, Rush (FWIW - if you catch him on the right day it might help, and the advertising value would be phenomenal), etc. Hell, even send copies to the NY Slimes, LA Slimes, Washington Past, etc. - merely reviewing it (and they'd universally condemn you and the book) would be invaluable to you and The Cause. Send a few to some Congress critters - maybe Ron Paul, for example, would even read some parts into the Congressional Record.
The key thing is to get as much publicity as possible, ASAP. The longer such a possibility is before the public, the less likely some Malvone will be to try it.
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